Foot-in-mouth epidemic

Here being making scientifically indefensible and colossally insensitive statements about rape.

The latest came in March from Celeste Greig, leader of the conservative faction of the California Republican Party, who dismissed pregnancy as a risk from rape.

Pregnancies by rape are rare, she told the San Jose Mercury News, because a woman's body is traumatized by the violence.

Now the state GOP has dumped her as head of the California Republican Assembly on an 84-78 convention vote.

If Greig's position sounds familiar, it's because it's the same nonsensical position taken last year by Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin.

Akin somehow decided pregnancy can be prevented by a woman involved in a "legitimate rape" because "the female body has ways to shut the whole thing down."

The conservative congressman had been in a winnable race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill. She ended up winning by 15 points.

The same position was taken by Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock, who said during a debate with his Democratic opponent for the U.S. Senate, "I just struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God that I think even if life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Democrat Joe Donnelly beat him by 7 points.

Just after the November election Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a rising GOP star, said in his now famous "stupid party" speech that his party must end "dumbed-down conservatism" by putting a stop to "offensive, bizarre" comments.

"We need to stop being simplistic," he said.

"We need to trust the intelligence of the American people and we need to stop insulting the intelligence of the voters."

Jindal isn't alone.

"Republican success will depend on having quality Senate candidates," GOP strategist Karl Rove wrote in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal last Wednesday. "Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock self-destructed last fall, and other candidates squandered important opportunities."

In California, Greig seemed intent on carrying the "stupid" banner. Mercifully, party members, although on a shockingly close vote at their convention, denied her the chance.

This state desperately needs a strong, active and intelligent Republican Party as a counterbalance to Democratic domination in Sacramento.

To achieve that it must offer voters quality, broad-based candidates and not narrow ideologues who open their mouths only to change feet.